Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Model Prisoner
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"Hmm...? What's wrong? Why are you grabbing your pant leg like that?"
Seeing her outfit, I couldn't help but feel a twitch down below.
No matter how little experience I'd had with women, staring directly at that face and figure was just too stimulating.
'I'm a healthy adult male, after all...'
"Quit standing there like that and have a seat first."
I gripped my pant leg tightly as I sat down.
"Oh, is my outfit making you a bit uncomfortable? Sorry about that. Since no men ever come down here, I've gotten into the habit of walking around with my top off."
She started tying her top back up over her chest again.
"Still, this feels nice. A guy applying to be a guard first thing."
In response to the guard's reaction, I raised one concern.
"But is this really okay? I don't remember exactly since I've lost my memories, but from what I can see, having a man work here seems like it could be a risk to the prison."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I heard you're special protected subjects. Won't this just create extra headaches for the prison because of me...?"
"Hahaha!"
She laughed heartily and continued.
"You're the first guy I've met who's so considerate. It's enough to get a girl wet!"
There was some weird phrasing mixed in, but I decided to let it slide for now.
"Anyway, we got word in advance that you've lost your memories, so I'll explain: when a man works at a prison like this, the company gets a hefty subsidy. That's profit right there. And even without that, just having you around will boost the other staff's morale big time."
It didn't quite click for me, but if I imagined the genders reversed, I got a rough idea of the situation.
'Even in prison back home, the pretty lady who made the meals was super popular... Something like that, I guess.'
"I'll get into the details later. For now, let's chat a bit. I haven't figured out where to assign you yet since there's so much you don't know."
"Got it. Ask away."
"You're really something else. Not like the average guys. How should I put it? You're polite."
Her way of speaking was intriguing.
It felt like a jab, but not in a way that offended at all.
"Anyway, setting that aside—what's your ability?"
"Ah, I've got a few years of experience as a guard from before."
She looked puzzled and asked again.
"That's not what I mean... What’s your ability? Your ability."
I couldn't understand her question.
"Ability?"
"Do you have any Mana Circles?"
"Pardon? No, nothing like that."
The question was baffling.
Mana Circles? It sounded like something out of a novel.
"Then are you a sword user? Sword Expert at least?"
"No, nothing like that either."
It was clear now. This was straight out of the fantasy novels I used to read.
Sword users, magic circles... This world seemed to have a touch of fantasy to it.
"Ha... This is a bit unexpected... At this level, you probably don't have any realm achievements either..."
Her expression grew darker by the second.
I started feeling deflated along with her.
"Well... It's unexpected, but not disappointing, so no worries. In cases like yours, it'd probably be safer and easier to manage Model Prisoners than regular inmates."
Maybe she saw my lost expression. She steered the conversation positively.
'Warmer than she first seemed.'
"First things first, I should explain the prison, right?"
Her explanation went like this.
The prison spanned from Ground Floor 1 to Underground 5. The deeper underground you went, the stronger or more large-scale the criminals' offenses were.
'Probably abilities like those Circles she mentioned.'
Underground 1 held 5,000 regular inmates, down to just 5 uncontrollable prisoners on Underground 5.
"That covers the basics. Our prison is the largest, so we have a ton of inmates. Without any abilities, managing Model Prisoners would suit you better than regulars."
"Model Prisoners?"
"Yeah, even serious offenders can become Model Prisoners if they serve diligently, which cuts their sentence way down. Plus, they each have their own cells, so it'd be easy for you to keep an eye on them."
"Ah, I see."
Model Prisoners had no reason to harm me, so it was an ideal assignment.
"You'll start today. Here's the file on the inmate you'll be handling. Read it over before you head out."
"Got it. Thank you."
After the pleasantries, I headed to Underground 4.
I was a bit surprised at first that Model Prisoners were on Underground 4, but the file said she'd never caused any incidents, so I went down with a sense of relief.
You take the elevator straight from Ground Floor 1 to Underground 4, so I couldn't see Underground 1, 2, or 3.
I checked the file again in the elevator, easing my tension.
'Name: Park Seorin... Prisoner number 4-1020...'
They prefixed the number with the current floor.
'6th Circle Mage prisoner? How strong is 6th Circle?'
I'd read some fantasy novels before, but they weren't my favorites, so it didn't hit home.
'They go up to 10th Circle, right? So, above average, I guess.'
-Ding
Underground 4 arrived.
"Whoa..."
It was astonishing. A corridor with no light at all.
A musty smell assaulted my nose.
Luckily, I wouldn't run into other prisoners on Underground 4.
The Model Prisoner area was separated from the rest even on this floor...
'Eerie... So eerie...'
Gray concrete stretched long and wide.
Nothing like the prisons from my world.
I followed the sparse lights along the path.
'Is this it?'
Solitary cells lined up in a row.
Light leaked from only one room among the many.
There was just one Model Prisoner on Underground 4, so that had to be my charge.
'Nervous. So nervous...'
As I stepped up to the door...
An immense pressure hit me.
Just nearing the room made the air feel crushing.
It wasn't unbearable, but it felt odd.
'Is this her...?'
A prisoner lay on the bed.
Black hair, pale skin... She looked ominous just lying there.
My daily routine was simple.
Come to work and watch this inmate.
There was a small room right in front of her solitary cell.
Like the office attached to an apartment complex?
A large window let me monitor the room in real time.
'Still, isn't this too unprotected? Even if she's a Model Prisoner, with no abilities, I'm dead if she snaps.'
The Prison Warden knew better than me, but the unease lingered.
'Sigh... Nothing's happened yet, so maybe I'll sit and rest a bit. I'm beat...'
Not sure if it was the heavy air, but fatigue hit quick. I leaned back in the chair to rest.
That moment.
"Hup...!"
The air grew heavier.
"Heup... Hah... Eup..."
Breathing got harder.
A massive something pressing down on me.
"...What are you...?"
A woman's voice slipped from the solitary cell.
"Feels different from usual... What are you? Come out quick...!"
'Model Prisoner, my ass... She said nothing would happen...'
Gasping for breath, I stumbled out and stood before her cell.
The moment I faced her, I knew.
Some aura from her was crushing me.
"I... Hup... S-sorry... I can't... breathe... Could you... maybe... pull back your aura...?"
Seeing my face, she looked puzzled and withdrew it.
Breathing eased instantly. I collapsed in relief.
"...What are you? Can't even handle this much? Newbie? Never felt this aura before..."
"Whew... I can breathe now... How'd you know I'm a newbie? Could be a guard from another floor..."
"Pfft."
She covered her mouth laughing and continued.
"That question alone screams newbie... And I can sense the auras of every guard from Ground Floor 1 down."
"What?"
"Not the point. Why can't I sense your aura? Especially from your pants—it's different from any guard I've felt."
At her words, I looked down.
'Oh... It's standing up...'
Even in this tense moment, her appearance had gotten me hard.
"Ah... Probably because I'm a guy? Different aura and all?"
Her eyes went wide at my words.
"A guy? You're a guy?"
"Yeah... Right?"
"Prove it then... Or you're in for it if you're lying."
"Prove it?"
She smacked her chest in frustration.
"Duh, guys have that thing only they have. Show it."
I just looked around helplessly, clueless.
"Ugh, so frustrating. Stand up and look me in the eye already."
She was smaller than me, but scary, so I obeyed.
"Whoa..."
I hadn't noticed before, but standing and seeing her properly was incredibly stimulating.
"What are you staring at like an idiot!"
